On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 1
"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 2
'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 3
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 4
'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.' 5
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 6
I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 7
'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 8
'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." Blessings for a Defiled People 9
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai: 10
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Ask the priests what the law says: 11
If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?' " The priests answered, "No." 12
Then Haggai said, "If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?" "Yes," the priests replied, "it becomes defiled." 13
Then Haggai said, " 'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,' declares the LORD. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled. 14
" 'Now give careful thought to this from this day on ,consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple. 15
When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 16
I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD. 17
'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Give careful thought: 18
Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. " 'From this day on I will bless you.' " Zerubbabel the LORD's Signet Ring 19
The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 20
"Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. 21
I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. 22
" 'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty." 23